Mayer v. Mayer

Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER, The Mayer I docket is closed, and pltff's Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis is denied as moot; but paid the filing fee in Mayer II docket. Given the congruency of facts and parties, the two actions are ordered c onsolidated on the Mayer II docket. For the following reasons, this case is dismissed. The consolidated action is dismissed for the fundamental deficiencies stated herein. The Court has considered affording pltff an opportunity to amend the complaint , but, because the complaint's deficiencies are not amenable to cure, granting leave to amend would be futile. Leave is denied. Leave to proceed in forma pauperis is denied as moot. The Court certifies pursuant to 28 USC sec. 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this Order would not be taken in good faith and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for purpose of an appeal. The Clerk of Court is directed to close the consolidated cases and then dockets. (Ordered by Judge Eric N. Vitaliano on 2/7/2012) c/m

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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BROOKLYN OFFICE
REWEN MAYER,
Plaintiff,
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
11-cv-6385 (ENV) (SMG)
-againstCHAN! MAYER,
Defendant.
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RUEBEN MAYER,
Plaintiff,
12-cv-286 (ENV) (RER)
-againstCHAN! MAYER,
Defendant.
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VITALIANO, D.J.
Pro se plaintiff Rewen Mayer recently filed two actions in this Court on identical factual
allegations. 1 The first action ("Mayer 1"), filed on December 29, 20 II, alleges that an Israeli
rabbinical court, exercising jurisdiction over his wife's petition for divorce filed in that court, 2
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Plaintiffs first name is spelled differently throughout both complaints.
See generally S.I. Strong, Law and Religion in Israel and Iran: How the Integration of Secular
and Spiritual Laws Affects Human Rights and the Potential for Violence, 19 Mich. J. Int'l L. 109,
155 (1997) ("Israel has made special provision for the inclusion of religious values in [family]
law by granting nearly exclusive jurisdiction over these matters to the religious courts pursuant
to the Status Quo Agreement.. .. Israel has four different sets of religious courts, one for each of
the officially recognized religions").
had issued an order in the divorce proceeding barring him from leaving the State of Israel, which
he contends violates his rights under the United States Constitution. Plaintiff filed a second
action ("Mayer II") on January 20, 2012, this time claiming violations under sections of the
Federal Criminal Code and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO").
Plaintiff requested permission to proceed in forma pauperis in Mayer I, but paid the filling fee in
Mayer II. Given the congruency of facts and parties, the two actions are ordered consolidated on
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the Mayer II docket. The Mayer I docket is closed, and plaintiffs motion to proceed in forma
pauperis is denied as moot. For the following reasons, this case is dismissed.
Background
The entire statement of claim from Mayer I is as follows:
Chani Mayer asked her husband Ruven, to grant a Jewish relig[i]ous
divorce ("Get"). He refused. Upon traveling to Isreal [sic] in late
September 2011, Chani, petitioned Isreal's Rabbinical court, to issue an
order barring Reuven from leaving Isreal. An order has been granted.
Reuven has not been able to leave Isreal since October 1, 2011.
Chani Mayer's action denies Reuven of his civil liberties, granted to him
by the U.S. Constitution, ammendments [sic] 9, 10 and 14. Also, forcing
him to participate in a religious act, violates his rights under the First
Amendment.
We are asking the Court to order Chani Mayer to withdraw her petition in
Isreal, and to let her husband Reuven to return to the U.S.
The statement of claim from Mayer II. adds only the following:
Chani Mayer[']s action constitutes ki[ dnap]ping, kidna[p ]ping for ransom,
extortion, racketeering under the RICO statu[t]e, since many people are involved
in it.
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Because Mayer I and Mayer II involve the same parties and nearly identical questions of law
and fact, the Court consolidates the two actions sua sponte. Endress v. Gentiva Health Services,
Inc., 2011 WL 5220475, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 2, 2011) ("A district court can consolidate related
cases under Rule 42(a) §ID! sponte." (citing Devlin v. Transp. Commc'n Int'l Union, 175 F.3d
121, 130 (2d Cir.1999))).
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We are also suing Chani Mayer for the sum of one hundred million dollars in
punitiv~ damages, and emotional and monetary damages, for denying her husband
to use h1s apartment in New York. 4
Standard of Review
Even if a plaintiff has paid the filing fee, a district court may dismiss an action sua
sponte if the court determines that the action is frivolous, that is, legally baseless regardless of
how palpable the dispute may be to the parties. Fitzgerald v. First E. Seventh St. Tenants Corn.,
221 F .3d 362, 363-64 (2d Cir. 2000). An action is frivolous as a matter of law when, inter alia, it
is "based on an indisputably meritless legal theory"- or, stated differently, when it "lacks an
arguable basis in law or a dispositive defense clearly exists on the face of the complaint."
Livingston v. Adirondack Beverage Co., 141 F .3d 434, 437 (2d Cir. 1998) (citations omitted).
In addition, if a court lacks jurisdiction, even if the claim is real, "dismissal is
mandatory." Manway Constr. Co. Inc. v. Hous. Auth. of City of Hartford, 711 F.2d 501, 503 (2d
Cir. 1983) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 (h)). And, when a plaintiff lacks standing, a court lacks
subject matter jurisdiction to hear his claim. Cent. States Se. & Sw Areas Health and Welfare
Fund v. Merck-Medco Managed Care, 433 F.3d 181, 197-98 (2d Cir. 2005). A court, moreover,
properly raises issues of subject matter jurisdiction, including questions of standing, sua sponte.
ld. Finally, because plaintiff proceeds prose, the Court construes his allegations liberally "to
raise the strongest arguments that they suggest." Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 470 F.3d
471, 474 (2d Cir. 2006).
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The Court also received a letter dated January 25, 2012 purporting to be from a friend of
plaintiffs, stating (1) plaintiff has been "kidnapped in Isreal [sic] by his wife" and (2) requesting
emergency treatment of this case.
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Discussion
A. Constitutional Claims
Plaintiff complains of the conduct of an individual and of a court operating under the
authority of a foreign country. Plaintiff bases his claims on the First, Ninth, Tenth, and
Fourteenth Amendments, which the Court construes as also including claims under the Fourth
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and Fifth Amendments. But claims under all of these amendments, individually or in any
collection, require an allegation of unlawful conduct by the United States or a state of the United
States or by someone acting under the color of their authority. Hudgens v. NLRB, 424 U.S. 507,
514-21, 96 S. Ct. 1029 (1976) (First Amendment claims require state action); Chandler v. Miller,
520 U.S. 305, 371, 117 S. Ct. 1295 (1997) (Fourth Amendment constrains state action); Clark v.
Town ofTiconderoga, 213 F.Supp.2d 198,201 (N.D.N.Y 2002) ("The Fifth Amendment ...
protects citizens from federal action."); Kraft v. Yeshiva University, 2001 WL 1191003, *3
(S.D.N.Y. Oct. 5, 2001) ("By its very terms, the 14th Amendment requires state action.").
Because the defendant, the State of Israel, and its rabbinical court are the only actors here,
Rewen Mayer's constitutional claims lack an arguable basis in fact and law and are "frivolous."6
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The Court construes plaintiffs Fourteenth Amendment claim as a due process claim under
either the Fifth Amendment or the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court also construes this claim
to include a Fourth Amendment claim against the unlawful seizure of his person and also as
incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment.
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Plaintiff fares no better under his remaining constitutionally-based theories. The Ninth
Amendment does not confer rights on anyone. Gibson v. Matthews, 926 F.2d 532, 537 (6th Cir.
1991). It instead simply explains that the rights enumerated in the Constitution are not the only
rights retained by the people. ld. Similarly, the Tenth Amendment is merely a "declaratory of
the relationship between the national and state governments," United States v. Darby, 312 U.S.
100, 124,61 S. Ct. 451 (1941), which thus does not provide plaintiff a basis on which to sue.
Accordingly, plaintiff lacks standing to assert his claims under the Ninth and Tenth
Amendments.
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B. Criminal Claims
Rewen Mayer relies on three sections of the criminal code: 18 U.S.C. § 956 (Conspiracy
to kill, kidnap, maim, or injure persons ... in a foreign country);§ 1201 (Kidnapping); and
§ 1202 (Ransom Money) as a basis for his claims. Private individuals, however, lack standing to
sue under the criminal law. Linda R.S. v. Richard D., 410 U.S. 614, 619, 93 S. Ct. 1146 (1973);
Ippolito v. Meisel, 958 F. Supp. 155, 161 (S.D.N.Y. 1997). Thus, plaintiffs claims purporting to
arise under the federal criminal code are dismissed due to the lack of standing.
C. RICO Claims
Plaintiff also seeks to bring a claim under RICO, 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c). RICO was
enacted to "prevent organized crime from infiltrating America's legitimate business
organizations." Moccio v. Cablevision Sys. Corp., 208 F. Supp. 2d 361,371 (E.D.N.Y. 2002).
RICO, of course, contains both criminal and civil provisions. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 1962, 1964. The
civil enforcement provision of Rl CO provides that "[a]ny person injured in his [or her] business
or property by reason of a violation of section 1962 ... may sue therefor in any appropriate
United States district court and shall recover threefold the damages ... and the cost ofthe suit,
including a reasonable attorney's fee." 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c). "To demonstrate standing [under
RICO], a plaintiff must plead, at a minimum, (1) the defendant's violation of§ 1962/ (2) an
injury to the plaintiffs business or property, and (3) causation of the injury by the defendant's
violation. This third requirement is satisfied if the defendant's injurious conduct is both the
factual and the proximate cause of the injury alleged." Lerner v. Fleet Bank. N.A., 318 F.3d 113,
120-24 (2d Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). A lack of RICO
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Section 1962(c) makes it unlawful "for any person employed by or associated with any
enterprise engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, to
conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise's affairs through a
pattern of racketeering activity .... " 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c).
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standing, however, does not divest a court of jurisdiction, and such a claim is properly dismissed
for failure to state a claim. Id. at 116-17.
Rewen Mayer falls miles short of stating a violation of§ 1962. He asserts only that
RICO must be violated "since many people are involved in [the alleged wrongdoing in Israel.]"
Nothing in plaintiffs pleadings, critically, even suggests the existence of facts upon which any
potential violation of RICO could be based. Accordingly, plaintiffs RICO claims lack an
arguable basis in law, and are dismissed as frivolous.
D. There are No Other Potential Claims
When the allegations are examined still more broadly, it is obvious that plaintiffs
allegations do not, nor can they be amended to, support a claim over which this Court will have
jurisdiction. Rewen Mayer is aggrieved by an order of a court in a foreign country in which he is
located. Indeed, he claims that an order of a court of that country detains him there. Regardless
how the Israeli court obtained jurisdiction, plaintitrs judicial relief must be fotmd in Israel, and,
certainly, in any event, not in this forum.
Conclusion
The consolidated action is dismissed for the fundamental deficiencies stated above. The
Court has considered affording plaintiff an opportunity to amend the complaint, but, because the
complaint's deficiencies are not amenable to cure, granting leave to amend would be futile. See
Hassan v. U.S. Dep't of Veteran Affairs, 137 F. App'x 418,420 (2d Cir. 2005) ("While prose
plaintiffs are generally given leave to amend a deficient complaint, a district court may deny leave
to amend when amendment would be futile."). Leave is denied. Leave to proceed in forma
pauperis is denied as moot.
The Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this Order
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would not be taken in good faith and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for purpose of an
appeal. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438,444-45 (1962).
The Clerk of Court is directed to close the consolidated cases and then dockets.
SO ORDERED.
Dated:
Brooklyn, New York
February 7, 2012
)
ERICN. VITALIANO
United States District Judge
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